England’s defeat to Germany in their second match of the Rabobank EuroHockey Championships left them with an easy to solve equation: Win their final group game and progress to the semi-finals. Standing in their way, however is that classic sporting foe, Scotland who will have their own aspirations.

Both sides mathematically have a chance of going through, though of course they can’t both take their place in the last four. With Ireland vs Germany following the England-Scotland clash, neither side can afford to leave anything to chance.

The sides met two years ago in the pool stage with goals from Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh doing the damage in a 2-1 win for the eventual winners England.

Rankings may be poles apart but with England vs Scotland the cliché is true: Form really does go out of the window.

Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson will be raring to go in the match after declaring that the Tartan Hearts weren’t just here to “make up the numbers”.

“We’re always up for this one.” Said the Scotland stopper. “It’s a massive rivalry. We’re always pumped up for that one so it should be good fun.”

England captain Alex Danson was pleased with her side’s performance despite their defeat to Germany and is looking forward to the clash with Scotland. Many the Tartan Hearts are friends of the England No15 but she insists that won’t be a problem:

“England vs Scotland is a big one. Playing against friends is always tough. It’ll be competitive but we’ll put friendships aside on the day and we’ll hopefully do what we need to do.”

Coach David Ralph, a native Scotsman himself is treating the match like any other game, telling The Top of the D:

“We will follow our normal processes and prepare for the next game. We need a result and to put ourselves in the right place going into the game but it’ll be no different to any other match with any other opponent.”

England’s record in tournaments against the old enemy is seven wins from seven. Can they make it eight from eight? Tune in tomorrow to find out!